The morning sun bathed the halls of House Aeternis in golden light, but the air within the grand estate carried a quiet tension. In the main study, Duke Reynard Aeternis sat behind a polished mahogany desk, his fingers tracing the rim of a wine glass as he contemplated the parchment before him.
A formal proposal from House Valmore.
It was not unexpected. The Valmores had been circling ever since whispers of Leon's potential began to spread. A noble house of great influence, their wealth rivaled that of the crown, and their military strength had been carefully cultivated for generations. They sought alliances not through bloodshed but through marriage—binding powerful houses to them and extending their grasp like a spider spinning an intricate web.
And now, they sought House Aeternis.
"Lady Evelyn Valmore," Reynard murmured, his golden eyes narrowing as he read the details once more. The proposal was simple: an engagement between Leon and the eldest daughter of Duke Valmore. A move that, on the surface, seemed like a strengthening of ties. But he knew better.
It was an attempt to seize control.
Seraphina stood nearby, her arms crossed as she read over the proposal for the second time. "They believe we're weak," she said, her voice calm but edged with sharp disapproval. "House Aeternis may not be what it once was, but they think we'll accept this without question."
"They believe we have no choice," Reynard corrected, setting the parchment down. "With the king watching us, the noble houses see an opportunity. If we refuse, they'll interpret it as a challenge. If we accept, we become little more than an extension of Valmore's influence."
Seraphina's expression darkened. "And if we delay?"
Reynard exhaled slowly. "Then they will look for another means to gain leverage. House Valmore is not foolish. If an engagement is refused, they may seek control through force or deception."
A heavy silence settled between them. House Valmore was not an enemy they could openly challenge, not while the kingdom's eyes were upon them. But giving them an opening would be equally dangerous.
"What will you do?" Seraphina finally asked.
Reynard leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled before him. "For now, nothing. We will acknowledge the proposal but give no immediate response. This will buy us time." His eyes glinted with quiet calculation. "But we will not remain idle."
Seraphina nodded, her mind already shifting to their next steps. If House Valmore thought they could dictate the future of House Aeternis, they would soon learn otherwise.
Leon would not be a pawn in their game.
---
Elsewhere, in the darkened halls of the royal palace, Duke Alric Valmore stood in quiet conversation with an unseen figure. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the walls, their voices a hushed murmur beneath the grand chandeliers.
"You delivered the proposal?" the figure asked, their tone smooth and measured.
Alric Valmore gave a slow nod. "Yes. Aeternis will not refuse outright, but they will not accept easily either." His lips curled into a smirk. "They still believe they can stand on their own."
The figure chuckled. "A dying house clinging to its past. How quaint."
Valmore's smirk remained. "They are not as weak as they appear, but they lack the power they once held. The kingdom watches them too closely now, and they are without allies."
"And the child?"
Alric's expression darkened slightly. "Leon Aeternis… He is an anomaly. We do not yet understand his true nature, but the king is interested in him. That alone is reason enough for caution."
The figure stepped forward slightly, though their face remained hidden in the dim light. "If the engagement is accepted, we gain control over Aeternis. If it is refused…" A pause. "Other options remain."
Duke Valmore's eyes glinted. "Indeed. We shall see how long House Aeternis can hold its ground."
The candlelight flickered, and the shadows deepened.
The game had begun.
---
Three days had passed since Prince Alistair had left Aeternis territory, his departure marked by a polite but firm rejection of his proposal. The young prince had expressed the royal family's desire to take Leon under their wing, offering to train him in the capital under the guidance of the finest instructors in the kingdom.
Reynard had refused.
The rejection had been delivered with grace, citing Leon's need to remain with his family and undergo his own training under House Aeternis' watchful eye. But beneath the polite words lay an undeniable message—House Aeternis would not surrender their heir so easily.
The response had not been well received.
A royal summons had arrived the following morning, commanding Duke Reynard Aeternis to appear before the king himself.
Now, as he rode toward the capital, accompanied by a handful of trusted knights, Reynard's thoughts remained carefully guarded. The timing of the summons was too convenient. Valmore's proposal. Alistair's failed request. And now the king himself calling for an audience.
The kingdom was moving.
And House Aeternis stood at the center of its shifting tides.